To enhance the classification accuracy of lower limb movements, a fusion recognition model integrating a surface electromyography (sEMG)-based convolutional neural network, transformer encoder, and long short-term memory network (CNN-Transformer-LSTM, CNN-TL) was proposed in this study. By combining these advanced techniques, significant improvements in movement classification were achieved. Firstly, sEMG data were collected from 20 subjects as they performed four distinct gait movements: walking upstairs, walking downstairs, walking on a level surface, and squatting. Subsequently, the gathered sEMG data underwent preprocessing, with features extracted from both the time domain and frequency domain. These features were then used as inputs for the machine learning recognition model. Finally, based on the preprocessed sEMG data, the CNN-TL lower limb action recognition model was constructed. The performance of CNN-TL was then compared with that of the CNN, LSTM, and SVM models. The results demonstrated that the accuracy of the CNN-TL model in lower limb action recognition was 3.76%, 5.92%, and 14.92% higher than that of the CNN-LSTM, CNN, and SVM models, respectively, thereby proving its superior classification performance. An effective scheme for improving lower limb motor function in rehabilitation and assistance devices was thus provided.